the hot goddess

Hello, December

This first week of the last month of 2024, I am still smiling at Silver Coast sea, surf, sand, sun, and salsa. It’s a wonderful life of midlife expat joy here in Portugal.

Even a grayish December morning here beats the lake-effect snowstorms blasting Northeast Ohio with more than five feet of snow in the U.S.
It was 64°F this December morning, and the beach behind my home was pretty bare, but morning surfing lessons are a staple here. Wetsuits required.
Backyard blues…
…and golds…
…and awe.
We had a blast last weekend in Caldas da Rainha, about 20 or so minutes by car from my village. Nearly three-and-a-half hours of dance lessons and partner practice, followed by two extra-strength Advils. The students? Portuguese locals. The instructors? They spoke Spanish with an occasional sprinkling of a Portuguese word here and there. No English. My strategy?
Watch. Mimic. Smile. Nod. Repeat. I was too busy learning and moving to take any photos. I thought I’d go grab my phone for some snaps when we took a break, but we never took a break. I was dripping with sweat and exhausted when we finally stopped after 10:30 p.m., but  learned and laughed all evening. I suck at dancing, so that’s saying a lot.

Thank you for reading! ❤️ May your December find you smiling and in your groove wherever you are.

The Hot Goddess

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25 comments

  1. Portugal in December looks beautiful!! We’re headed to Aruba next week for 10 glorious nights to soak up sun, fun and relaxation…maybe we should look at becoming expats in Aruba?? LOL Happy December Natalie 😍

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    • I was just talking about this with a friend. I used to expect disappointing results, but this big change has shown me otherwise. Thank you for your comment, Geoff. Yes, my expectations have been exceeded more than I thought possible.

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  9. I see that you are out in nature and appreciate the beautiful wonders of the ocean and the stunning sunsets. It’s December, and the weather is chilly compared to North Carolina this week. Great to see your smiling face.

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